With its solo exhibition, the Kunsthalle Rostock is honouring the diverse and impressive work of Hedwig Holtz-Sommer, a representative of the third generation of the Ahrenshoop artists’ colony. Born in 1901, the artist settled in Wustrow on the Fischland in 1934 and initially became known for her haunting portraits. However, her work developed further and today primarily comprises finely nuanced landscape watercolours, colourful floral still lifes and sensitive depictions of groups of people. Her drawings and illustrations are particularly influential, as their minimalism gives them a special clarity and expressiveness.
The exhibition at the Kunsthalle Rostock shows around 80 works from different creative phases and sheds light on the development of an artist whose career spanned from the German Empire to the GDR. Hedwig Holtz-Sommer was not only in dialogue with nature and the people around her, but also dealt with political and social upheavals. Special attention is paid to her extensive collection of works on paper, some of which are being presented to the public for the first time. New research findings, which will be published as part of a comprehensive biography, will also provide a fresh look at previously unknown aspects of her life and artistic work.
